Did the Pope Really Say even Atheists are Redeemed? – Steve Ray will discuss with Teresa Tomeo

by Steve Ray on May 28, 2013

Tomorrow morning (9:15-9:35 AM Eastern) I will be on Ave Maria Radio’s Catholic Connections with Teresa Tomeo to discuss the seemingly controversial words of Pope Francis in a recent homily.

In one section of his homily on May 22, Pope Francis stated:

The Lord has redeemed all of us, all of us, with the Blood of Christ: all of us, not just Catholics. Everyone! “Father, the atheists?” Even the atheists. Everyone! And this Blood makes us children of God of the first class! We are created children in the likeness of God and the Blood of Christ has redeemed us all!

And we all have a duty to do good. And this commandment for everyone to do good, I think, is a beautiful path towards peace. If we, each doing our own part, if we do good to others, if we meet there, doing good, and we go slowly, gently, little by little, we will make that culture of encounter: we need that so much. We must meet one another doing good. “But I don’t believe, Father, I am an atheist!” But do good: we will meet one another there.

Steve,
In the article on your link,The Vatican Responds, it named the ‘Vatican spokesman’ as Fr Thomas Rosica. Is he REALLY, a Vatican spokesman approved by the Vatican to respond for them? How do go about finding out such things ?
The reason that I ask this is that it makes me very nervous and apprehensive to think that he is speaking for the Vatican. Here’s why. He is the founder and CEO of Salt and Light TV in Canada( a Catholic TV station). In October of last year he interviewed Gregory Baumon his “Witness” proagm Baum is an ex priest who incurred an automatic excommunication for marrying a nun while still a priest. He is an advocate of homosexual ‘marriage’ and sex outside of marriage and contraception. Fr Thomas loves him and parade him on Catholic TV as a “WITNESS” for the faith!
Here is the article that made me go watch the program myself and I have since found other things on the website(especially about Vatican II) that make me nervous.http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/same-sex-marriage-advocate-gregory-baum-lauded-by-canadian-catholic-media/
This is an excerpt from the article just in case you do not have time to go see it in its entirety
“On his regular “Witness” program on Salt and Light TV, Fr. Rosica begins the October 7 interview by lauding Baum. “Professor Gregory Baum, it’s a great joy for us to have you on set with us for Witness on Salt and Light Television,” says Rosica.

Although Fr. Rosica notes, “Gregory we’ve known each other for a long time…,” the Salt and Light CEO fails to mention Baum’s decades-long dissent from the teachings of the Church. Fr. Rosica astonishingly goes on to state, “I’ve certainly admired very much your theology, your writings but also your love of the Church, your love of Christ, and you helped to keep alive not only the spirit of the Second Vatican council, but also the authentic teaching of the Council … you remain a faithful, deeply devoted Catholic, love Jesus, the Church, the Eucharist.”

During the interview, Fr. Rosica also sets up a dichotomy between what he calls those like Baum, who in his terms engage in “great theological search”, and those he calls “crusaders of orthodoxy.”

Fr. Rosica sees in those orthodox, the “pseudo-orthodoxy” who “are among the most unhappy and sad and angry that I’ve ever met.” In contrast he concludes the intimate television interview, saying to Baum, “Gregory, I want to thank you, You have been for me and continue to be a real model of hope – Gaudium et Spes – joy and hope.”

Now I know that Fr Thomas served as the Vatican’s English language spokesperson for the transition in the Papacy during February and March, because Fr Lombardi from the Vatican Press Office asked him to come and help.( But I did NOT know that that made him a Vatican spokesman for all time on everything). Perhaps he is quoted as being a Vatican spokesman because he was one for them then. But I would REALLY like to know if the Vatican knows and approves that he is speaking for them
Sigh… it saddens me AND it makes me very nervous to think of Fr Thomas as a Vatican spokesman…

We are all redeemed. Redemption is not for only a select few. The holy cross of Christ was for everyone but we have to believe, profess out faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and be baptized in water and spirit to be born again…and keep believing

We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.
Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world.